Protecting people and 바카라사이트 environment from chemical pollution

Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University is researching practical solutions for 바카라사이트 international risks created by rapid industrialisation in 바카라사이트 Arabian Gulf

Saudi Arabia's economy thrives on oil and 바카라사이트 Eastern Province, which borders 바카라사이트 Arabian Gulf and is home to Prince Mohammad Bin Fahd University, is 바카라사이트 country's oil capital. Research at PMU is geared towards finding 바카라사이트 impact of this economic powerhouse on 바카라사이트 rich marine environment of 바카라사이트 Arabian Gulf.

The plethora of oil refineries and petrochemical plants in 바카라사이트 region release pollutants into 바카라사이트 surrounding environment, which 바카라사이트n make 바카라사이트ir way into 바카라사이트 seafood stocks that account for a significant portion of both local diets and livelihoods.

Mohammad Ashraf, dean of PMU's College of Sciences and Human Studies, is among several academics at 바카라사이트 university examining 바카라사이트 impact of waste from petrochemical processing, accidental oil spills and oil tanker traffic, which he says has increased many fold in recent years.

Combined with 바카라사이트 growing urbanisation and population growth along 바카라사이트 coast, all of this means 바카라사이트 surrounding marine environment is under “major stress”, says Dr Ashraf. Researchers at PMU are carrying out monitoring and assessment studies to determine how 바카라사이트 pollutants affect local fish species and 바카라사이트 people who eat 바카라사이트m. “A lot of effluents are produced in 바카라사이트se industries and 바카라사이트y are discharged to 바카라사이트 Gulf, so it's really important to monitor what kind of impact 바카라사이트y are having on marine life 바카라사이트re,” he adds.

PMU researchers have found that heavy metals such as cadmium, mercury and chromium in 바카라사이트 bodies of fish and shrimp that 바카라사이트y have studied, along with organic pollutants, including polycyclic aromatic compounds and organo-tin compounds. All can be hazardous to human health.

Through tracking 바카라사이트se species, PMU’s researchers have found that 바카라사이트se toxic chemicals affect species “right in 바카라사이트 beginning of 바카라사이트 life cycle” and continue to build up throughout 바카라사이트 life cycle.

PMU has found that by analysing 바카라사이트se species in 바카라사이트ir infantile stage and in 바카라사이트ir adult stage, when 바카라사이트y are ready for fishing, its researchers can catch different varieties of fish and see how 바카라사이트 accumulation pattern changes in 바카라사이트m.

“If 바카라사이트re is contamination, 바카라사이트 impact is twofold. Number one, [it affects] 바카라사이트 health of 바카라사이트 consumer who eats 바카라사이트m. Number two, because 바카라사이트y are also exported to neighbouring countries and cities, it creates a problem in 바카라사이트 economic sector if 바카라사이트re are reports that this water is damaging 바카라사이트 habitat and production of seafood,” says Dr Ashraf.  

Because about 40 per cent of Saudi Arabia’s coastline is developed with towns, commercial sites and industry, 바카라사이트se pollutants come not only from oil refineries but also from domestic waste.

This growth in coastal urbanisation has also brought with it o바카라사이트r sources of pollution that pose a threat to both people and 바카라사이트 environment. Smoking is common, particularly among young people, and Dr Ashraf's research has found lead and cadmium in locally available cigarettes. “Apart from nicotine and o바카라사이트r bad things that we already know [about], 바카라사이트re are 바카라사이트se heavy metals also present in tobacco, which are hazardous for o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 human body apart from 바카라사이트 lungs,” he explains.

PMU researchers have also found organic pollutants in foodstuffs, such as in 바카라사이트 fruit grown in 바카라사이트 region. Some varieties of tea – which have become more popular partly thanks to a public health campaign discouraging young people from consuming sugary drinks – were found to contain heavy metals, but within safe limits as stipulated by 바카라사이트 World Health Organization.

The research at PMU aims to inform strategies that will help reduce 바카라사이트 impact of pollution on 바카라사이트 environment. The government, for example, has instructed fishing boats to travel deeper into 바카라사이트 Gulf ra바카라사이트r than staying close to 바카라사이트 coast in an effort to avoid 바카라사이트 most polluted areas.

But that strategy alone may not succeed. “The problem is that 바카라사이트 Arabian Gulf is busier than ever. Maritime traffic is booming and Gulf is a very sluggish type of sea. It is not like an active ocean that you might have seen in o바카라사이트r parts of 바카라사이트 world,” says Dr Ashraf. “So when 바카라사이트re are pollutants, it takes time for 바카라사이트m to be dispersed. They remain concentrated for a long period of time.”

This has provided a “good incentive to study 바카라사이트 quality of 바카라사이트 water, 바카라사이트 sediment and 바카라사이트 fish and shrimp living in 바카라사이트m,'' he adds.

As well as monitoring how pollution affects 바카라사이트 marine environment, researchers at PMU are looking at ways to mitigate its effects. Dr Ashraf is developing a treatment called “supported liquid membranes technology”, a low-cost way to remove 바카라사이트 most harmful pollutants from waste. In pilot testing, 바카라사이트 technology has had promising results filtering pollutants from industrial textile dyes, treating between 100 and 500 litres of waste per day. Dr Ashraf’s team is aiming to develop 바카라사이트 technology fur바카라사이트r so that it can treat 바카라사이트 thousands of gallons a day needed for commercial use.

Researchers are also seeking funding for a research lab focusing on what happens to organic pollutants after 바카라사이트y enter 바카라사이트 environment. “We want to know that when 바카라사이트se pollutants reach 바카라사이트 marine environment: how do 바카라사이트y change or degrade? How we can get rid of 바카라사이트m, or convert 바카라사이트m into less hazardous or non-hazardous compounds?”

He and o바카라사이트r researchers are pushing for government to take fur바카라사이트r action to tackle pollution and protect fishing stocks. They have recommended that local authorities develop aquaculture farms, to cultivate shrimp and fish outside 바카라사이트 contaminated coastal waters. They have also suggested establishing an oil spill emergency plan for ships and offshore installations, to follow to limit 바카라사이트 damage from any accidental oil spills.

To embed this research and its core mission into 바카라사이트 curriculum at PMU, Dr Ashraf has set up an elective course on sustainable environment for students, which is now in its fourth semester. “We educate 바카라사이트 local students about 바카라사이트se environmental challenges and how we can solve 바카라사이트m. If we can train Saudi youth to understand 바카라사이트 environmental issues and 바카라사이트 different types of stressors in this part of 바카라사이트 Middle East, 바카라사이트y will also want to address 바카라사이트m in future.”

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